help Prune/Shape this citrus (forum)

Brad starts with ...
I've got a orange (unknown type) 'sappling' that I took out of an overcrowded space at my dad's place. Its really skewed shape. Can I get your advice on how to prune / shape it to get a long-term healthy tree?

I'm worried about 1) the skew to one side and 2) the very narrow v neck of the 2 (current) main branches. (would you lop this off?)

Photos from my-edibles


Time: 14th December 2009 12:49pm

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Original Post was last edited: 18th November 2011 1:36pm

About the Author Brad2
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Jimmy says...
I'd chop it at the base.

There looks a nice vertical shoot amongst those at the base, keep it longer than the rest to encourage it to become the new leader.

Time: 14th December 2009 5:44pm

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About the Author Jimmy
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Brad says...
Thanks Jimmy,

I think you mean, take off the whole large skewed branch (you can see on the left photo it turns from right to left) at its base so there's no V. Then find a leader (on the smaller branch that'll remain) and get it straight. Did I understand correctly?

Is there a best time of year to do this?

Would I need to apply anything to that cut?

Time: 14th December 2009 7:04pm

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About the Author Brad2
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Jimmy says...
Yes, I would do it now, as the spring growth flush is nearly finished, cutting would stimulate a sub leader to take over, any later and the trees go semi dormant during the heat of summer and you will have to wait til autumn.

Time: 15th December 2009 11:01am

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Brad says...
Thanks (very grateful), I'll give that a go.

While I'm getting your expert advice, would you do anything to the lime tree taken simultaneously?


Time: 15th December 2009 1:19pm

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Original Post was last edited: 18th November 2011 1:43pm

About the Author Brad2
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Brad says...
Ok I did the snip on the orange tree...
the two longest branches again join tightly as shown on the left in figure 1. The other 3 spread out to one side come from the same height on the "trunk"

What would you recommend now???
(sorry, its hard to do this via photo)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 15th December 2009 11:06pm

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About the Author Brad2
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Jimmy says...
From photo 1, I would only retain the centre shoot and chop the rest flush.

From photo 2 its hard to tell !

Time: 16th December 2009 12:34pm

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Original Post was last edited: 16th December 2009 4:38pm

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Brad says...
maybe this will help. the centre shoot you refer to is the branch that zooms off high and left in photo 2. The leftmost branch in photo 1 is the one that goes up and right in photo 2.

Time: 16th December 2009 12:47pm

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About the Author Brad2
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Brad says...
Thanks Jimmy. I was nervous, but am now a bit more confident with what I've done. Here's the trimmed tree in its proper spot (a big pot). Almost unrecognisable from the first photo posted here. Excuse the improvisation, I wanted some afternoon sun protection after its trim. If you've got any further tips, I'm all ears (and eyes)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 23rd December 2009 10:49pm

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